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Hebrews 11:29-12:2

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

By: The Rev. Dr. W. Ross Blackburn

I saw a YouTube clip yesterday, titled “Abortion will end in my generation.” It went through the last 43 years, year by year, giving a short fact about the state of abortion in the US for each year since 1973.

Behind the claim was testimony to many of the pro-life gains, particularly those made in the last decade or so.

I am not quite as convinced that legal abortion will end in this generation, but I appreciate and admire the faith of those who do. The Lord will not let abortion persist indefinitely, and therefore it will come to an end, even if that end comes when the Lord returns. Which means that many of us will also die in faith, not having received what was promised. But the promise remains.

Which promise is that? While we could go to many places in the Scripture, hear the book of Revelation: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying. ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1-5).

This is the city which the faithful before us had only seen from afar. It will be a city in which all life is cherished and celebrated, from the least to the greatest. It will be a city where the wounded, the troubled, and the heavy-laden will find healing and peace. It will be a city where abortion will be no more, and where those who have faithfully sought to defend the fatherless and plead for the widow will hear the words “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

But that day is not yet. Until then, we lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and we look to Jesus, running with endurance this long race that is set before us. For seeking an end to abortion has certainly been a long race for those who have given themselves to it.